On Friday evening, we were all reminded of the inherent dangers officers face every day in law enforcement. To the credit of the officers of Taraval Station, they proudly and without hesitation, put on their uniforms and patrolled the district with only one mission in mind, which was to protect and serve their community. They did so while being fully aware that at any given moment they could have been faced with circumstances that could have ultimately taken their lives. In these moments, officers time and time again have displayed their resiliency for life and display amazing traits of heroism. Many of you have conveyed your thoughts and prayers for the Taraval officers as they have been facing a very challenging time. I am incredibly proud of the officers who have stood strong together and have not lost focus of their mission to protect. Thank you to fellow officers throughout the SFPD and to the many residents who have showed an overwhelming amount of support for the officers. I would respectfully request you continue to keep these officers in your thoughts and I know it is greatly appreciated by each and every member of Taraval Station.
In the month of October, the OMI neighborhood has experienced an increase of neighborhood violence that has left many residents in fear. On Wednesday, October 12, myself and Board of Supervisors John Avalos, co-hosted a community meeting which allowed neighbors to express their concerns, fears and thoughts on moving forward within the community. Safety within the OMI has and will continue to be a priority for the members of Taraval Station. With commitment to safety, residents should expect a high visible presence by uniformed officers as well as community engagement by the Taraval Neighborhood Team led by Sgt Scott Hom. As the Commanding Officer, I will continue to utilize department, city and neighborhood resources to address the concerns of the community. If you were unable to attend the meeting and you would like to share your comments or concerns, I encourage you to please do so by contacting me at 415-759-3100 or emailing me at denise.flaherty@sfgov.org.
In the month of September, we also saw an increase in robberies, burglaries and auto break ins throughout the Taraval. The data is posted on the website for your review of specific areas within the Taraval. While our increases for incidents of robbery and auto break ins were slight, our largest increase came in the area of burglaries. As we continue to assess the crime data that is available, officers are deployed strategically based on location of occurrence, days of the week and time of day. The community surrounding San Francisco State University has seen a significant increase in residential burglaries and we have been working in partnership with SFSU to identify suspects in these incidents and conduct investigations that may lead to the apprehension of suspects. Please ensure that your doors and windows are locked when you are away from your home and also when you are at home as well. SFSafe is an invaluable organization that can offer tips and evaluate your home to harden your residence as a possible target, please visit their website at sfsafe.org
Finally, as a result of the recent officer involved shooting that occurred on Firday evening, Chief Chaplin will be holding a Town Hall Meeting this Thursday evening at 6pm at the Scottish Rite Center. I will be available at this meeting as well, I hope that many of you are able to attend and participate in the conversation.